Football: SMITH IS STUNG BY A SNATCH 'N GRABBI.
Byline: JAMIE HEWITTGRAEME SOUNESS got the better of old Ibrox pal Walter Smith as his Blackburn side triumphed 1-0 over Everton at Ewood Park.
Souness had Corrado Grabbi to thank for the victory as the Italian hitman netted his first Rovers goal in the 37th minute after a neat pass from former Gers star Tugay.
That was enough to separate the teams though it was harsh on an Everton side who saw Duncan Ferguson miss a penalty and were inspired by Paul Gascoigne in his first Toffees start since last November.
Smith would have at least drawn some comfort from Gazza's display as he lasted the full 90 minutes and generally ran the show.
Everton took control early on and former Hearts defender Gary Naysmith wasted a good chance, skewing wide when faced with a one-on-one with Rovers keeper Brad Friedel.
Gazza then twice picked out the head of Big Dunc but Friedel's alert responses saved Souness.
Rovers hit back and Grabbi powered in a magnificent free-kick from 25 yards which cannoned off Paul Gerrard's right-hand post to safety.
Whistler Graham Barber then enraged both sides by rejecting spot kick appeals at both ends.
First Damien Duff appeared to up-end Ferguson then Gascoigne hauled down Grabbi.
Both were probable penalties and Barber should have either awarded them or booked the attackers for diving - though neither appeared guilty.
After 28 minutes, Ferguson stretched well to knock a Niclas Alexandersson cross back across the face of goal and when the Swede attempted to reach the ball he was felled by Stig Inge Bjornbye.
This time Barber pointed to the spot but Ferguson's weak effort was easily stopped by Friedel.
Everton definitely had the better of the first half but it was Rovers who took the lead in the 37th minute with Grabbi's first goal.
Tugay picked out the Italian unmarked on the left of the penalty area and Grabbi skinned Abel Xavier before placing a low shot into the corner.
Three minutes after the restart Freidel again came to Blackburn's rescue when he somehow kept out a searing drive from former Celtic hero Alan Stubbs.
With 14 minutes remaining Ferguson should have equalised after Alexandersson's cross but somehow placed his header wide.
Friedel again saved Rovers late on when he diverted substitute Joe-Max Moore's powerful close-range shot onto a post and then grabbed the rebound.
That sealed victory for Rovers and disappointment for Gascoigne and Everton.
Elsewhere, a superb 1-1 draw at Arsenal by ten-man Bolton saw them return to the Premiership summit.
Sam Allardyce's shock-troops had Ricardo Gardner sent off after 30 minutes for pulling back Dennis Bergkamp but refused to buckle under an onslaught from Arsene Wenger's men.
Frannie Jeffers opened his account for the Gunners after 74 minutes.
Robert Pires slipped onto Dennis Bergkamp's pass and coolly drew Jussi Jaaskelainen from his line before unselfishly sliding the ball square for Jeffers to lash it into an empty net.
But the pounds 8million striker's effort was in vain when ex-Ibrox man Rod Wallace crossed for Michael Ricketts to bang in the equaliser seven minutes from time for his fifth of the season.
At Anfield, Jari Litmanen and Robbie Fowler started up front for Liverpool and the Finn notched the Reds' winner with a neat solo effort for a 1-0 win over Spurs.
Sunderland had veteran Niall Quinn to thank for avoiding home defeat for the second time in a week when they came from two down to force a 2-2 draw with Charlton.
The Londoners led through goals from Shaun Bartlett and Steve Brown before the big Irishman headed in a cross from Kevin Phillips then nodded the leveller from a free-kick by Gavin McCann.
Steve Marlet made his debut for Fulham at Leicester and although the Londoners dominated neither side could make the breakthrough.
 Printer friendly
 Cite/link
 Email
 Feedback
| |
| Title Annotation: | Sport |
|---|---|
| Publication: | Sunday Mail (Glasgow, Scotland) |
| Date: | Sep 23, 2001 |
| Words: | 636 |
| Previous Article: | Football: World of Football. |
| Next Article: | Football: Reds have plenty in reserve. |